Congratulations to the new City Council for finally raising the High-Hanover garage rate from $.75 to $1 per hour with no free parking as I have been advocating for four years. The sad truth is that the shameful inaction of recent councils to heed my advice has cost the hard-working Portsmouth taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenue — and therefore a higher tax rate. The pathetic argument by the rickshaw crowd that the minor increase will cause congestion and force people to park in neighborhoods is both inaccurate and self-serving. Let me repeat: People want to park as close as possible to their destination, they need to be able to find the central location and an hourly rate of $1 is still ridiculously low compared to other cities. In fact, $1.50 per hour for the service provided is reasonable, but one step at a time!

One of my other oft-repeated taxpayer concerns that has yet to be addressed is the massive escalation in the budget line item for salaries, benefits and entitlements — roughly 85 percent of the annual expenses. Let me repeat: Unless we reverse the runaway, compounded increases to this line item that past councils have failed to do, the unions will continue to threaten the long-term solvency of our city finances. Let me also repeat that this is strictly a dollar-and-cents issue and in no way questions the ability, dedication, professionalism and great service of our public union employees.

My recommendation has consistently been to let all the union contracts expire and adopt a market-based compensation system that reflects the realities of the real world so We the People and not the unions are in charge. Public sector total compensation levels exceed comparable private sector packages by at least 20 percent to 30 percent, which is unsustainable. For the moment, I again demand that no union contract negotiations occur until each union agrees to switch health care coverage to save the Portsmouth taxpayers in excess of $1.1 million per year! Remember that the stubborn refusal of the unions to make just this one reasonable switch when it was initially revealed in 2010 has now cost the taxpayers over $4 million and counting. This arrogant behavior is inexcusable and clearly demonstrates that the unions have little to no regard for the plight of the taxpayers. Demanding this long-overdue change is a step in the right direction without affecting the well-being of any union employee!

As an entrepreneur and independent businessman, I like many others pay 100 percent of our health insurance premiums and 100 percent of our retirement contributions annually. Then, as a property owner, I pay a portion of the roughly 80 percent of overly generous public sector union employee benefits with my after tax dollars! A quick scrolling through the newly released CAFR report numbers for the past 10 fiscal years supports my overall position: Expenses have increased from $77 million to $107 million, or 39 percent, and property tax revenue has increased from $47 million to $69.2 million, or 47 percent! What has the rate of inflation been in the meantime? Was there a severe recession in union employee total compensation from 2007-2010?

It is time for the new council to represent their taxpayer constituents and recognize that 3-4 percent compounded annual budget increases are unwarranted and irresponsible. Every household in America can make do with 3-4 percent less per year for a few years without affecting the health and existence of all family members. Given that the great majority of our tax dollars are allocated to the one line item of salaries, benefits and entitlements, and current levels of service must be maintained, it is quite obvious where the cuts must occur. If a public sector employee receives a total compensation package with unrivalled job security of $80,000-$100,000 — as many do — they can certainly survive on $75,000-$90,000. Has there been a wholesale exodus of public sector employees over the past 10 years? What does that tell you? Furthermore, it is quite disturbing and amazing that no one — not even the crack Herald reporters — has ever addressed the obvious conflict of interest issue with some of our city officials and/or family members receiving union pensions or salaries while supposedly representing the interests of taxpayers in union negotiations and other city business.

More comments and observations on the CAFR report and downtown development to follow. Let us be thankful for and mindful of the many hours that our paid and unpaid public officials devote to the running of our beloved city and let us continue to encourage them to operate in an honorable, conservative and cost-efficient manner.

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